Sir Alex Ferguson has predicted new arrival Henrik Larsson could help catapult Manchester United to title glory this season.

Ferguson pulled off the surprise of the season when he confirmed Larsson's capture on a three-month loan from Helsingborgs on Friday.

The 35-year-old will join United at the beginning of January and remain at Old
Trafford until March 12, making him available for a maximum of 13 matches,
including the first Champions League knockout round and testing Premiership
trips to Arsenal and Liverpool.

And, while Larsson will not be around long enough to make as big an impact as
Eric Cantona when he joined the Red Devils in 2002, Ferguson believes the
veteran Swede can also become a catalyst for success.

'When it gets down to the last few months of the season, experience and nerve
counts for a lot.

'In those situations, we look to Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Now we also have Henrik.

'He has maturity and intelligence and he can play anywhere across the front
line and I am sure he can help us change things at a very important part of the
season.'

Although it had been widely predicted Ferguson would reinforce his striking
options during the January transfer window, no-one anticipated a move for
Larsson.

With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer due to return from a hamstring injury next week,
Alan Smith now pushing himself through a personal fitness programme and Giuseppe
Rossi set to come back to United next month after an unsuccessful loan stint
with Newcastle, Ferguson now believes he has enough forward power to see him
through until the season reaches its climax.

'We won't be going for any other strikers,' confirmed the United boss, who
had been linked with big-money moves for Fernando Torres and Charlton's Darren
Bent.

'We have exhausted all avenues and this, without doubt, is the best
option.'

Although Larsson has never played in England, his phenomenal record in
Scotland - 242 goals in 315 appearances during seven highly-successful years at
Celtic - suggests he can make an impact, with Ferguson claiming the Swede was
the inspiration behind Barcelona's Champions League triumph against Arsenal last
season.

'I have known about Henrik for a long time,' said Ferguson.

'He is a great character and has a fantastic pedigree. I watched him in the
Champions League final and he changed things around completely that night. I
have no doubt he can do it in the Premiership.'